Seam structure



Feb. 14, 1967 s. LASH 3,303,515

SEAM STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 30, 1964 vvAvAUAvAUAvAvmvAgnYA vA-A'A'AUA'AYA 1N VENTOR,

Feb. 14, 967

s. I Asl-l 3,303,515

SEAM STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 30, 1964 INVENTOR.

3 /Sg WM Feb. 14, 1967 s, LASH 3,303,515

SEAM STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 5o, 1964 5 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR 55 www@ l f7 5H United States Patent O" 3,303,515 SEAM STRUCTURE Seymour Lash, Hiclrsviile, NX., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,922 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-275) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to improvements in fabric seam construction, and more particularly pertains to a concealed fabric seam structure adapted for use on protective clothing.

In protective clothing, such as fire-fighters wear, multiple course stitching has been required in the construction of the garment in order to impart the required form and degree of strength against ordinary wear. However, the garment is only as strong as the seams which are used to bind its integral parts together. If the seams are cornpromised in lany way, the garment will eventually be rendered obsolete or, at least, useless for the purposes for which it was intended.

Each of the seams, in turn, are only as strong as the threads which are utilized in their construction. Iow- `ever, as is normally the case in seam structure, a major wear factor results from the exposure of one or more courses of seam threads on the outer surface of the garment, such threads being subject to rupture by the hazards of ordinary wear such as abrasion, corrosion, fire and heat. The seam structure of this invention conceals and thereby protects seams from rupture.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a seam structure adaptable for use under a wide variety of service conditions.

Another object is to provide an improved seam structure adaptible for use in the construction of protective garments.

A further object is to provide a seam structure whose structural and functional characteristics render it effective against the deteriorating forces of ordinary use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to-the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective now of a seam structure showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective now showing the first stages in the construction of the seam structure of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing intermediate stages in the construction of the seam structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the final stages in the construction of the seam structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative seam structure falling within the concept of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the first stages in the construction of the seam structure of FIG. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 2 shows a fabric 11 interposed between two tapes, 12 and 13, of approximately the same size. The respective leading edges 14, 15 and 16 of these three pieces of material are then placed in common alignment and secured together by straight safety stitching 17. The tape 13 may also be made of the same material as the fabric 11.

FIG. 3 shows the second stages of the operation, in

3,303,515 Patented Feb. 14, 1967 ICC which the free ends of tapes 12 and 13 are folded back upon themselves. The leading edge 19 of tape 13 is then placed in common alignment with the leading edge 18 of fabric 2) and both are secured together by straight safety stitching 21.

In the final stage of construction of the concealed seam, as may be seen in FIG. 4, the free end of tape 12 is then wrapped around the portion of the structure adjacent the leading edges, 19 and 1S, of tape 13 and fabric 20. The area adjacent the wrapped around portion is then secured by straight safety stitching 22.

At this point, the free end of fabric 20 is held in position and the free end of fabric 11 is rotated 180 counterclockwise to give the structure depicted in FIG. 1, which is the concealed seam holding fabrics 11 and 20 together.

Another seam structure falling within the concept of this invention is set forth in FIG. 5. To make this structure, the fabrics 31 and 32 and tape 33 are positioned so that one of the leading edges of each, 34, 35 and 36, are brought into common alignment as shown in FIG. 6. A safety-overlock stitch 37 is then passed through the area adjacent the aligned edges securing such edges together in the form of a seam. The free ends of fabric 31 and tape 33 are then folded back upon themselves and are secured together by means of a straight safety stitch 38 to give the structure depicted in FIG. 5.

In the finished structure, there is no stitching of the concealed seam exposed to view on the facing or outward side. All of the seam holding threads are on the inside of the garment. When properly formed, the tapes act as shock absorbers when stress is applied to the seam area. There are no raw or exposed fabric edges on the inside of the garment .and therefore a lesser possibility exists that the seam will deteriorate from abrasion during wear or laundering. This type seam structure is also more iiexible on heavier material as compared with the conventional seam which has double fold or double needle stitching.

Also, during manufacture, this seam structure permits the garment to be handled facilely inside out in the the flat position. or off-the-arm machine for closing leg or sleeve inseams or outseams. This operation would be impossible with the conventional seam structure having double needle or top stitching. The seam further permits all positioning of the garment, while being sewn, to the left of the needle bar rather than having a larger portion of the garment positioned under the machine head. All of these advantages are possible with the-seam structure of this invention.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teaching. For instance, the seam structure may also be used for many things besides garments. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A seam structure comprising a first fabric,

a second fabric,

a first tape,

a second tape,

each of said fabrics and said tapes having a first edge and a second opposite edge,

said first tape, first fabric and second tape lying in juxtaposed relation and having their rst edges in common alignment and secured together by stitch- 111g,

said first and second tapes each being folded back upon itself,

Thus, it is not necessary to use a post said second tape and said second fabric lying in juxtaposed relation and having their second edges in comm-0n alignment and secured together by stitching, said first tape having its second edge Wrapped around the seam formed by the second edge of said second 5 tape and said second fabric and secured together by stitching. 2. The seam structure of claim 1 wherein said rst fabric and said second tape comprise like material.

is of the straight safety type.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS C urtis.

Siliesky.

Weil s 2-143 X Nottebohrn.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

3. The seam structure of claim 1 wherein said stitching 10 I. R. BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SEAM STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FIRST FABRIC, A SECOND FABRIC, A FIRST TAPE, A SECOND TAPE, EACH OF SAID FABRICS AND SAID TAPES HAVING A FIRST EDGE AND A SECOND OPPOSITE EDGE, SAID FIRST TAPE, FIRST FABRIC AND SECOND TAPE LYING IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION AND HAVING THEIR FIRST EDGES IN COMMON ALIGNMENT AND SECURED TOGETHER BY STITCHING, SAID FIRST AND SECOND TAPES EACH BEING FOLDED BACK UPON ITSELF, SAID SECOND TAPE AND SAID SECOND FABRIC LYING IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION AND HAVING THEIR SECOND EDGES IN COMMON ALIGNMENT AND SECURED TOGETHER BY STITCHING, SAID FIRST TAPE HAVING ITS SECOND EDGE WRAPPED AROUND THE SEAM FORMED BY THE SECOND EDGE OF SAID SECOND TAPE AND SAID SECOND FABRIC AND SECURED TOGETHER BY STITCHING. 